Trans boy, 15, wins right to change his name officially

Gabriel Delgado Suárez, 15, from Calatayud (Zaragoza province) was born a girl but does not identify with his sex, and has considered himself a boy from very earliest childhood.

He has grown up as a transsexual male, is in treatment to ensure he develops as a man, and yet was not permitted to give himself a man’s name on his DNI card.

Yet his SIP, or health service card, shows his name as Gabriel, which he has been called for practically all of his life.

The Civil Registry denied him permission to change it, despite having permission from his mother, Pilar – still necessary for minors – saying ‘Gabriel’ was ‘not gender-neutral’ and was ‘unequivocally masculine’.

“But that’s the whole point,” said a frustrated Gabriel, who identifies entirely as male and not as ‘gender-neutral’ or ‘non-binary’.

The General Directorate of Registrars and Notaries has upheld Gabriel’s appeal and finally issued his new ID card.

“I’m happy now, delighted. I couldn’t wait for this whole situation to be over and done with,” the teen told reporters.

Pilar said the General Directorate told the family this morning (Thursday) of its decision in their favour.

“They’ve made a note in the margin of his birth registration file, and now he’s 100% Gabriel,” she said, sounding – according to reporters who phoned her – every bit as happy as her son.

Gabriel still has to wait a few days, because the amended birth registration file has to be stamped by the General Directorate of the National Police in Madrid.

“We thought we’d be leaving there with the new ID card, but they told us it won’t be ready until Wednesday,” said Pilar, meaning they have nearly another week to go before Gabriel can use the DNI with his real name on it.

The teen’s battle started when he finished his ESO, Spain’s answer to GCSEs, and was concerned his certificate would show the girl’s name he was given at birth.

They visited the Civil Registry in Calatayud, but went away stunned at having been denied the right to change Gabriel’s name.

A petition on Change.org was launched – now standing at nearly 203,800 signatures, it was handed in to the General Directorate of Registrars and Notaries in Madrid in October after more than 129,000 people had signed it.

It was headed up: “Why won’t they let me be who I am?”

Days after the petition was received, the ministry of justice published an announcement in the Official State Bulletin (BOE) ordering registrars to comply with the rights of transsexual persons – including minors – to change their name in accordance with the gender they identify with, meaning Gabriel’s ordeal should not happen again to any other trans persons, irrespective of age.

Photograph of Gabriel Delgado from social media